Folding shipping-crate.



C. B. DAVIS.

FOLDING SHIPPING CRAH.

Avmcmou FILED on. 24. 19:5.

1,254,482. Patented Jan.22,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I! C. B. DAVIS.

FOLDING SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 24, 1916.

1,254,482. Patented Jan. 22,1918,

2 SHEETS-SREET 2- a. 7/70 73 4,?

I; mu 1 g 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE B. DAVIS, 01 'RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNGB, 0F GNE-THIRD T0OSBOURH WATTSON AND ONE-THIRD T0 MICHAELJ. DACY, BOTH 0F RICHMQND.VIRGINIA.

FOLDING SHIPPING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

Application filed 0etober'24, 1916. Serial No; 121,457.

To all whom it may concern:

-Beit linown that I, CLAUDE Bf Davis," a citizen'of the United States.residing at Richmond, in the county of H'enrico, State of Virginia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements'in Folding Shipping-Crates; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding shipping crates and more particularlyto knock-down boxes or crates for shipping bakers produce.

The object of this invention is to provide a shipping crate which willmeet the demands of shippers for a collapsible or knockdown receptaclein which perishable products, such as bread, or other bakery productsmay be safely and equitably transported, while being so completely acollapsible article that it may be returned to the original point ofshipment, not only at a minimum expense, but with the greatest degree ofsafety from wear and tear. It has become very considerable factor in thebusinessof bakeries to ship their products by rapid transportationmeans, to surrounding localities and adjacent cities, and for thispurpose, light but strongly manufactured crates or baskets have beenemployed. These, however, require a large amount of space for theirreturn, as much, in advance as when being shipped with contents sineeitis impossible to nest them. The present invention, therefore, avoidsthedisadvantages and impractical features of the known moth ods ofshipment, as I have been acquainted with them, by constructing a box inwhich the sides, the bottom and the top may be compactly folded intoclose eontignity, so that the folded boxes not only require a smallamount of space for their return but are so compacted that the danger oftheir being crushed or twisted out of shape is reduced to a minimum.

In connection with the above invention, it is more particularly theobject to provide a peculiar form of'mechanism for locking the parts inextended position, and also a means for "operating with theforementioned'locking mechanism for holding the de'vicein collapsedposition. 7

It 'is'likewisc a particular object to construct" a collapsible crate inwhich the lid is disposed inside of the four edges of the top,so'as'to'hold or close inside of the marginal portion of the latter andalso withinlthe same plane therewith, and furthermore to providein'conneetion with the lid and the top an improved form of hasp orsecuring device.

With the above and other objects in view, and such aswill hereinafterappear, my invention will now be fully set forth and described,reference being had to the'accompanying drawing.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box or crate-setup,

Fig.2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the box when set up,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the 'box when thelatter is collapsed,

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional perspectiveview of the means for lockingthebox in its set-up state,

Fi 5 is an enlarged detail section showing is e parts illustrated inFig. ewhen employed to lock the crate in collapsed positron,

Fig. dis a detail transverse section taken through the top of the boxand showing the cover securing device, and

i Fig. 7 is a: section on line E -'1' of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the bottom ofthe box or crate which is built up upon a suitable pluralityoftransversecleats 2. Secured upon the upper faceof the bottom 1 along thelongitudinal edges thereof is the pair of bars or beadingsfi', andbetween the latter, at the ends of the bottom 1 are hingedly mount edthe end pieces l. The end pieces at are preferably formed of paneledmaterial, so

that the box or receptacle may be made as light as possible without anysacrifice of the requisite strength, this paneled construction alsoavoiding any possible warping of the end pieces. The and pieces 4 arehinged to the bottom 1 at "their lower inner edges, as by the hinges 5,and may be swung thereupon downwardly against the upper face of thebottom 1 so as to lie wholly below and between the headings 3. Handles 6secured to the outer faces of the ends 4 provide a suitablefmeans' forcarrying the box, when the latter is set up, and also a means forelevating the ends from collapsed to set-up position.

Mounted upon the upper edges of the bars or beadings 3, are thesectional sides 7 which consist of upper and lower sections equal inlength to the length of the box, and each comprising a paneled structureof the same type as the end pieces 4. The upper sections are hinged tothe lower sec tions, so that they will break inwardly in folding, andthe lower edges of the lower sections are hinged to the upper inneredges of the headings 8 so that in folding, the lower sections will fallupon the exposed sides or faces of the end pieces 4. Thus, the sides 7,in the process of collapsing the box, hreal: upon the longitudinalmedian line, so that the upper and lower sections thereof fold one uponthe other, and the folded sides fall upon the end pieces so as to leavesullicient space therebetween for the handles 6. in order to impart anadditional degree of rigidity to the sides 7 in their extended position,a series of dowel pins 8 (Fig. 7) is inserted in the upper edge of eachof the lower sections of the sides, and is adapted to he received in acorresponding series of openings U provided in the lower edges of theupper side sections.

The upper side sections support a top frame 10 to which is hinged thecover or lid 11. The frame 10 constructed in any suit able manner toclosely overlie the upper edges of the ends and sides when the latterare extended or set up, and is hinged to the sides by means of hinges 12which have their leaves. -ecured to the lower face of the frame 10 andthe inner faces of the sides, respectively, so that when the sections ofthe sides are collapsed inwardly, the frame 10 may be let down upon theinner faces of the upper side sections and will eventually lie in aplane parallel to the bottom 1 and the inwardly folded end pieces 4.

The lid or cover 11 is mounted upon the fame 10 by means of hinges 13secured to the upper surfaces of the elements 10 and 11, the lid orcover 11 resting upon a ledge 14 formed continuously around the inneredge of the frame 10. l ollowing the construction of the sides and end.pieces. the lid 11 is also a paneled structure. and when folded orclosed, lies wholly within the plane of the frame 10.

In order to lock the box or receptacle into set up position. thefollmving devices are provided. Secured to the end u'ienibers of theframe 10. oreferahly at middle points. are the right angular plates 15whose horizontal leaves completely overlie the width of the end piecesof the fame, and are provided with the longitudinal slots 16 whichcorrespond or register with similar slots formed entirely through theend members of the frame 10. The vertical leaves of the plates 15 extenddownwardly over the sides of the frame 10, and are carried therebeyond,to form stops for the end pieces 4 when the latter are swung intovertical posi tion in setting up the box. The extended portions of thevertical leaves are also longi tudinally slotted as at 17, for a purposewhich will hereinafter appear. As best indicated in Big. 4, the lid 11is provided at its ends with right angular plates 18 which are securedto the upper surface of the lid and extend beyond its side edges totermii nate in the vertical leaves 19 which extend through the slots 16when the lid is closed, and are of such length that they pass beyond thelower surface of the frame 10 and into en agement with the innersurfaces of the end pieces 4: when the latter are set up. Therefore,when the lid is closed the leaves 19 pass the slots 16 and thecorresponding slots in the frame 10, to hold the ends in verticalposition as long as the lid is closed. To release the ends, the lid mustfirst be opened to remove the leaves 19 from their contact with theinside face of the ends. In this manner it is evident that the endpieces 1 will hold the sides 7 in extended position. and that the endswill be held in vertical position by having their upper edges engagedbetween the vertical sides of the plates 15 and the lower ends of theleaves 19.

Secured between the bottom boards and the transverse cleats :2 are thespring latches 20 (Fig. 5 the latter consisting of the base plates 21 bymeans of which the latches are secured and the vertical spring armswhich terminate at their upper ends in the interned lips \Vhen the boxis collapsed. the lips 22 snap into engagement with the slots 17 formedin the vertical leaves of the plates 15, the upper surfaces of the lips29 being beveled in order to permit them to ride by the lower edges ofthe plates 15 when the frame 10 is carried downwardly into engagementwith the collapsed sides.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a means for lock ing the lid in its closedposition. Mounted upon the upper surface of the lid 11 is a plate 23%which extends thence forwardly over the frame 10 and has its forward endhent downwardly to overlie the front edge of the latter. Slidable uponthe plate :23 is a sin'iilarly shaped plate which is carried by theplate 23 through a pin and slot connection 25, 26. Secured to theforward down turned end of the plate 21 is a bolt 27 which extendsinwardly therefrom and is adapted to pass through an opening 28 in thedown turned end of the plate 23 and into engagement with a recess 29formed in the edge of the frame 10. Thus, by sliding the plate 2%rearwardly, relative to the plate 23, the lid may be locked to the frame10, thereby completely closing the box. In order to permit the sealingof the box, an opening 30 is passed through the frame 10, the forwardside 7 and the plates 23 and 2-1,

ISC

the sealing wire being thus given a passageway to securely seal thecontents of the box against unauthorized inspection.

Upon the foregoing description, it is evident that I have invented athoroughly practical collapsible crate for shipping purposes, and whilethe operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description,it should be noted that the devices which I have provided for securingthe box in its elevated position and also in its collapsed positionperform these functions with the least possible number of parts, and ina manier which permits of the readiest release of the parts from eithertheir set up or collapsed position. As far as is practical the sameelements are utilized to lock the box in its collapsed and set upposition, and co operate to provide in the most practical manner knownto me a Crate which meets the demand which has been hereinbeforedescribed.

\Vhat I claim as my in vcntion is 1 l. A collapsible crate, comprisingin combination, a bottom, end pieces hinged upon the bottom to foldinwardly thereupon, sectional sides secured to the bottom in posi' tionto collapse inwardly upon the end pieces in parallel relation thereto, atop frame hinged across the sides, a cover hinged to close within thetop frame, and means carried by the cover and top frame to embrace thesides of the end pieces when the crate is set up.

A collapsible crate, comprising in combination, a bottom, cud pier-cshinged upon ihe bottom to fold inwardly thereupon, sectional sidessecured to the bottom in position to collapse inwardly upon the endpieces in parallel relation thereto, a top structure hinged across thesides and including a lid, stop plates extending downwardly from theends of the top, to provide abutnients for the end pieces when extended,and means carried by the lid and extending through the top in relationto bear against the inner faces of the end pieces and hold the latter inextended position when the lid is closed.

3. In a collapsible crate, the combination nith a bottom, a topstructure including a frame and a cover hinged thereto, and an inwardlyfolding end, of a stop plate extending downwardly from the top frame toform an abutment for the end, said downwardly extending plate having alongitudinal slot located below the edge of the top, an element carriedby the cover to cotiperate with said stop plate to lock the end in openposition, and a spring latch piate carried by the bottom and extendingupwardly to look into said slot when the end is collapsed and the top isbrought into folded relation to the bottom.

i. In a collapsible crate, the combination with a bottom, a topstructure and an inwardly folding end, of a lock plate extendingdownwardly from the edge of the top, to provide a stop for the outerface of the end in its extended position, said plate having a slotformed therein below the top, a plate extending through the top inparallel relation to the lock plate to bear against the inner face ofthe end when the latter bears against the lock plate, the last mentionedplate being displayed when the box is opened, and a latch plate carriedby the bottom and extending upwardly to look into said slot when the endis collapsed and the top is brought into folded relation to the bottom.

5. In collapsible crate, the combination with a bottom, a top structureand inwardly folding ends, said top structure consisting of a top frameand a cover carried thereby, and n'ieans carried by the cover and topframe to embrace the sides of the end pieces when the crate is set up.

(3. in a collapsible crate, the combination with a bottom, a topstructure and an in wardiy folding end, said top structure con sislingof a top frame and a cover carried thereby, a stop plate extending overthe end of the frame to overlie its top and extend downwardly beyond itsedge to provide abutmcnts for the end, when the latter is extended, saidstop plate having a slot in each of its horizontal and verticalelements, a plate carried by said cover to enter the slot in thehorizontal element of the stop plate when the cover is closed and engagethe innor side of the end, and a latch plate on the bottom to engage theslotin the vertical element of the stop plate when the crate is folded.

In testimony whereof, I alfix my signature, in the presence of tWowitnesses.

CLAUDE B. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

Gno. H. CHANnLEn, J. VVAT'rsoN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

